The world's richest families' staggering wealth

"Rothschild family: net worth estimated at up to $700 trillion. One of the wealthiest and most influential families in the world, the banking dynasty was founded in the 1760s."

The world's richest families' staggering wealth

I have to admit I am envious. I would not really care as much if I had healthcare and retirement security. But I feel like I am always one layoff away from losing my house. Or one major health crisis away from losing everything. And saving money for retirement seems impossible while paying for college tuition of my two kids. I don't think this all because of my lower class lack of discipline lifestyle. I don't think the water and food supply is free of chemicals that cause illness. Sometimes I think our laws rig the the system creating cartels and monopolies that gouge the American people because there are no free-markets and no competition by legislation. And inflation is a hidden tax caused by the printed of fiat money. Maybe I should have had only one kid instead of two. The problem at the time was my damn wife is too beautiful and could not help myself.

I don't know. It seems to me everywhere I look is a system of leverage sucking the most money possible out of my wallet. I must be getting old because everything seems so God damn expensive to me.

But I get it. It's really me not the system. If only I had more discipline, ingenuity, or something I would be able to overcome all my life problems and fears. I haven't given up. I still buy a lottery ticket from time-to-time. And each time I honestly think I am going to win.

I've heard a lot of people complain about taxes being too high over the years. I have to be honest with you. When I read or experience the obscene levels of wealth inequality in the World the first thing that comes to mind is, "how bad can taxes be if the billionaires and trillionaires are so filthy rich beyond what the person making the median wage is doing?" The way I see it, it's as if the super rich pay zero taxes. Call me crazy I guess.

Let's see 700 trillion is 700 thousand billion. A billion is a thousand million. So 700 trillion is 700 thousand thousand million. Or 700 trillion is 700,000,000 million. Almost a billion million dollars. A very expensive Latte at Starbucks costs $20. That's 35 billion Lattes. How many Lattes can one person drink in one lifetime????? Maybe my Latte math is off. This is higher math for me. Whatever the real number is it's a lot of Lattes from Starbucks!!!

There has always been extreme wealth and poverty at the margins.

Yes, when you are living paycheck to paycheck it is hard to imagine someone having tens of millions or billions at their disposal. Heck, most people just want an extra 50k a year.

However, the world does not and never will work that way. Wealth is not is fixed pie. The entire pie grows.

Most of these billionaires have created many times their wealth on a global scale which is why they are so rich in the first place.

Most are extremely charitable. Go to any city and see all things that are funded by their charitable giving.

Envy can eat at you. Just live your life and dont worry about what others have. Many are rich in material goods but poor in their personal lives.

I have a beautiful wife, two great kids, and my health. I am rich.

I rather have that than riches but kids who hate me because I'm never around or a gold digging spouse, etc.

Can't really complain if you keep voting in capitalist governments.

originally posted by: Edumakated
There has always been extreme wealth and poverty at the margins.

I think you could measure or graph the percentages. Percentages are the great equalizer when it comes to superstitions about money.

Maybe, just maybe, you are slightly wrong in the sense the word "extreme" has never been as meaningful as it is now.

But it is nice to know I am at the margins!

Stop worrying about what other people have and you don't.

Start concentrating on how you can improve yourself and your own lot in life while learning to be content with what you have and you will learn how to be happy in time.

Concentrate on you, not the Joneses. That's the secret.

a reply to: dfnj2015

$700 trillion is an absurdly made up number, the entire world's GDP doesn't approach that number by roughly a factor of 10 so it's not possible to accumulate that much wealth. Hysterical website is hysterical.

And stop hating on the Rothschilds, they make awesome wine.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Oh, what is the proper number then?

a reply to: dfnj2015

What would make you hate them even more?

a reply to: ketsuko

Ah, it's just me. It's not the system. Thanks. It's good know the system is righteous and I am just a complainer.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
Let's see 700 trillion is 700 thousand billion. A billion is a thousand million. So 700 trillion is 700 thousand thousand million. Or 700 trillion is 700,000,000 million. Almost a billion million dollars. A very expensive Latte at Starbucks costs $20. That's 35 billion Lattes. How many Lattes can one person drink in one lifetime????? Maybe my Latte math is off. This is higher math for me. Whatever the real number is it's a lot of Lattes from Starbucks!!!

Hmmm, your budgeting shows a bit about how your mind, as well as others, works.

First, you're spending $20 on a damn latte. I don't go to Starbuck's often, but when I do, $5.15 w/ tax is about what I spend. If you're spending $20, then you're doing it wrong.

Second, if you had that much money, it would be much wiser to just buy your own espresso machine and make your own latte's. Or better yet, start your own coffeeshop and not only make money, but have all the latte's you could desire.

Now I know it's all theoretical and just said for conversation, but that could be why some have more money than others, it's all in how you think to use it. /shrug

a reply to: Necrobile

He spends $20 and you're spending $5.15?!

I only spend $4.

From where I stand, you're both doing it wrong although you're bit about buying a machine has real merit, and we're seriously thinking about a Keurig or something like it.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
Oh, what is the proper number then?

Not $700 trillion. There is no way you can have that much wealth and not have people be able to see the holdings since it's nearly ten times the entire world's GDP and ownership of stocks is widely available when you have majority control and they'd need to have majority control of every major corporation ten times over to even get close to that silly number.

Use your head.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
a reply to: ketsuko

Ah, it's just me. It's not the system. Thanks. It's good know the system is righteous and I am just a complainer.

Well, let's put it this way.

Considering where I have been in my life and where I have gotten to, I'd say yeah, you're more of the problem.

No, I'm not a filthy, dirty mega-billionaire, but I am miles above where I started out, and so is my husband.

I am also not consumed by greed and envy because others are beyond where I am at in life. I'm pretty happy with where I am and what I have, all things considered. Likely because I recall where I was and I am grateful that I am not there anymore.

originally posted by: ketsuko
I am also not consumed by greed and envy...

There are worse things to be consumed by than greed and envy...….like me for example.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

At least you'd know the proper wine pairings.

The US has a distorted view of wealth and poverty. Someone living in a beat up trailer park with running water, electricity, food, access to an ER, ability to join the military and get free healthcare, free food, a job if they are able bodied is NOT POOR. They are living like a king compared to the rest of the planet by a wide margin.

When I pass by poor neighborhoods I do not consider them poor at all. Want to know what poverty really is, go visit Afghanistan, parts of Africa, China, India. Houses made of mud, grass, cardboard boxes, no running water, electricity, access to a hospital. That is real poverty.

What is perceived as poverty in the US is a sham.

a reply to: ketsuko

Thank you, Clarice.

originally posted by: Stupidsecrets
The US has a distorted view of wealth and poverty. Someone living in a beat up trailer park with running water, electricity, food, access to an ER, ability to join the military and get free healthcare, free food, a job if they are able bodied is NOT POOR. They are living like a king compared to the rest of the planet by a wide margin.

When I pass by poor neighborhoods I do not consider them poor at all. Want to know what poverty really is, go visit Afghanistan, parts of Africa, China, India. Houses made of mud, grass, cardboard boxes, no running water, electricity, access to a hospital. That is real poverty.

What is perceived as poverty in the US is a sham.

Yup. I've pointed that out on numerous threads. Even earning minimum wage in the US puts you in the top 1% of income globally.

Poor in America is like the middle and upper class in most countries.

Even in our poorest ghettos people have solidly constructed houses, cellphones, running water, clothing, cars, etc. We dont have toddlers running around buck naked with distended bellies and dying if dysentry.

Go visit any third world shizhole and you can see real poverty. Some favelas or dominican republic, etc.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: ketsuko

Thank you, Clarice.

I'm thinking along the lines of foie gras and veal.... Combined, but with a baby.

Hey.. trickle down! The rich are working very hard to make our lives better. Trust in the elite!